Media

Taxes & Economy

‘Stimulus’ Nonsense

• Nathan Benefield
• February 13, 2008

Arthur Laffer in the Wall Street Journal on the Stimulus Nonsense of robbing Peter to pay Paul: All of the stimulative effects of the rebate to the recipients…

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Government Accountability

Rendell: Conservatives don’t like Black people

• Nathan Benefield
• February 12, 2008

Gov. Rendell said today that conservatives (or at least a small, but meaningful percentage) “are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate.” He attributes his margin of…

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Education

Don’t write off vouchers

• Nathan Benefield
• February 12, 2008

Robert Enlow in USA Today on the merits of school voucher programs. Enlow is providing the counterpoint to a piece arguing for moving away from the push for…

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Government Accountability

Mommy, why is Vince Fumo in our kitchen?

• Nathan Benefield
• February 12, 2008

The latest Vince Fumo for Senate ad ends with a little girl asking,”Mommy, why is that man in our kitchen?” Oh, so many punchlines to choose from. I’m going…

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Taxes & Economy

States of Opportunity

• Nathan Benefield
• February 12, 2008

Wall Street Journal on the net domestic migration from high-tax to low-tax states.

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Education

PHEAA must pay legal fees

• Nathan Benefield
• February 11, 2008

The Commonwealth Court ruled that PHEAA must pay $48,000 in legal fees to the AP, WTAE TV, and the Patriot News for “wanton disregard in withholding public records”:…

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Health Care

The “Cost of the Uninsured”

• Nathan Benefield
• February 11, 2008

Many proposals for “universal health care”, including RendellCare, claim that there will be savings by eliminating what everyone pays on “costs for the uninsured”, or uncompensated care.But a new…

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Taxes & Economy

Consumption of the Rich and Poor

• Nathan Benefield
• February 10, 2008

Interesting analysis in the New York Times of consumption by income category (for a quick summary, click on the chart): If we look at consumption per person,…

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Taxes & Economy

Court strikes down EPA’s emissions rule

• Nathan Benefield
• February 10, 2008

A federal court struck down the federal EPA’s emissions rule in a lawsuit partially funded by Pennsylvania Taxpayers. My understanding of the ruling – and feel free to correct…

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Taxes & Economy

Living Large

• Nathan Benefield
• February 10, 2008

ReasonTV video with Drew Carey on America’s middle class.

Media

Turnpike Commission’s Posh Travel Spending

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2008

WGAL News 8has a story on the toll-funded travel expenditures for Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier, including some high priced dinners. On a trip to Chicago, for…

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Taxes & Economy

Study: Ethanol may add to global warming

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2008

Another study finds that ethanol and biofuels are not “green” and will only increase greenhouse gasses: The study said that after taking into account expected worldwide land-use changes,…

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Health Care

Health Insurance Mandate Update

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2008

Wall Street Journal op-ed by CAHI researchers on the cost of the 1,961 health insurance mandates. A health-insurance “mandate” is a legislative requirement that an insurance company or…

Media

State Budget

New Borrowing + New Taxes = “Avoidance of Debt”

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2008

In the Post-Gazette, Governor Rendell continues to argue that his insurance tax is a tax: Mr. Rendell strongly denies that the surcharge is a new tax. Instead,…

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Taxes & Economy

Federal Stimulus=$300K per job

• Nathan Benefield
• February 7, 2008

The Heritage Foundation Foundry Blog sums up the “economic stimulus” package just passed by the US Senate. OMB Director Jim Nussle (advocating in favor of the stimulus package),…

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Taxes & Economy

Proposed PA Budget Details

• Nathan Benefield
• February 7, 2008

For all the budget watchers and number-crunchers out there, here are some additional budget resources: Spreadsheet with all the line items from the proposed General Fund Budget (Microsoft Excel…

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Taxes & Economy

Is Rendell Nuts?

• February 7, 2008

Pennsylvania governor confuses taxpayers with leprechauns HARRISBURG, PA — In Gov. Ed Rendell’s FY 2008-09 budget address, he called for higher and new taxes that, if passed by the…

Press Release

Taxes & Economy

Video from Budget Biopsy Luncheon

• Nathan Benefield
• February 7, 2008

Watch Below or here…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Are You Nuts Governor?

• Nathan Benefield
• February 7, 2008

Governor Ed Rendell goes ballistic on KDKA reporter Jon Delano, asking “Are you nuts, Jon? Are you nuts?” (watch the incredible Video Clip) Delano’s sanity is in question…

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Taxes & Economy

Change in plan to cut tax angers Pa. business owners

• Nathan Benefield
• February 6, 2008

Governor Rendell’s budget calls for another slowdown of the Corporate Stock and Franchise Tax phaseout. While this isn’t technically a tax increase – rather represents less of a reduction…

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Health Care

Cover A Few Pennsylvanians update

• Nathan Benefield
• February 6, 2008

A few weeks ago, we put out some quick facts about the few Pennsylvanians that would be covered by “Cover All Pennsylvanians.” Based on the new Governor’s budget, we…

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